You are here

Interior Architecture Design (IAD)

Dedicated to preparing future leaders and innovators in the global design community, the interior design program at Indiana State University offers a dynamic and progressive curriculum supported by top-notch facilities, frequent field trips, an active professional advisory board, and a faculty of practicing designers and scholars.

Featured in America'sTop 150 Best Buys in Higher Education,Indiana State University has been praised by the Princeton Review for its "private school feel... welcoming student body, and reputation for tolerance." Home to approximately 13,500 students, its attractive residential campus borders downtown Terre Haute. The program itself is part of the Department of Built Environment in the College of Technology.

MISSION

To empower program graduates to become innovative, environmentally and socially conscious designers.

To be involved in the community and public engagement.

To focus on the world of design and all its complexity in relation to its effect on people as well as their social interactions and behavior.

Goals

To academically prepare the students for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam.

To promote a sense of teamwork, tolerance, and humanitarian values among the students through appropriate design projects.

To encourage the significance, understanding, and application of sustainable design practices.

To encourage Study Abroad.

To retain the 100% job placement 6 months post-graduation.

PHILOSOPHY

To provide opportunities for students to have experiential learning.

To focus on the important design skill of problem solving.

To focus on career readiness.

CURRICULUM

The four-year first professional program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture Design degree. It emphasizes rigorous professional preparation, integrating the complex aesthetic, technical, and theoretical aspects of commercial, institutional, residential, and product design. Classes are small, typically with only 15-17 students, and program facilities include design studios equipped with individual computer work stations outfitted with leading industry software including AutoCAD, Revit, 20/20, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch Up, and others.

Students in the Interior Architecture Design program at ISU participate in studio projects, critiques, exams, design competitions, presentations, and research papers. Outside jurors frequently participate in student critiques. The program shares the university and department's commitment to experiential learning, and community-based projects are frequently undertaken in design studios.

All Students enrolled in the Interior Architecture Design program at ISU are encouraged to be active members of the IAD student organization Interior Designers Embracing Architecture (IDEA) as well as active student members of the three Interior Design professional organizations:American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) to further enhance their future professional careers. IDEA as student organization has a student chapter for each one of the professional organizations. The IDEA officers will provide further information about these and other memberships as well as scheduled IDEA meetings during the first couple of weeks of each semester.

Internships are a required part of the interior design curriculum, providing students with invaluable industry experience. In the recent past, students completed internships with prominent architecture and interior design firms in Raleigh, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Nashville, Phoenix, Louisville, and Atlanta. Students typically complete their internships during the summer between their junior and senior years and requires 300 hours of paid work in the industry or related field.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

As the major is delivered face-to-face and in a linear sequence transfer students may be required to take courses which are at the beginning of the 4-year cycle, thus making their time to graduation longer than may be expected. Transfer students requesting acceptance into the program are advised to meet with the IAD program coordinator or College of Technology transfer advisor to discuss a path to graduation.

SENIOR THESIS EXHIBIT

This exhibition showcases a selection of outstanding senior thesis presentations from the Interior Architecture Design’s four-year degree program. The program’s semester long thesis project has three parts: research, design and documentation. Upon entering the spring semester of study, students translate their research and 4 years of cumulative experience into final design solutions.

Students establish horizontal and vertical circulation patterns as they locate stairs, elevators and means of egress. While shaping and composing the various interior volumes they anticipate mechanical systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, power, fire, and life safety. In addition to selecting colors, finishes, furniture, and equipment students develop extensive space plans, lighting plans, elevations, perspectives, and details to illustrate their design intent.

The exhibition occurs during the fourth academic year in the spring semester and is open to the public.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

At least a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for unconditional acceptance into the IAD program. If recommended for admission by IAD faculty, applicants with a GPA lower than 2.5 will be offered a conditional acceptance on a space-available basis.

FACILITIES

Designed specifically to support our program, the Interior Architecture Design program, is located in the newly renovated second floor of the Technology Annex Building. The Department of Built Environment features a dedicated IAD studio with a critique room, exhibition gallery, resource library, work room, individual computer work stations and drafting tables. In addition there is a student break room, secondary studio, general classrooms and faculty offices with conference room.

All Interior Architecture Design classes are held in the Technology Buildings, easily accessible by a short walk across campus or from downtown Terre Haute. The facility is open until 9:00 pm on weeknights and is accessible on the weekend, as well. Interior Architecture Design students have 24/7 access to the discipline specific design studio.

STUDIO CULTURE

The studio is the core of the program that holds all other parts of the curriculum together. The faculty expects that learning from other courses and outside interests will be integrated into the design process. Students are expected to work in studio after hours and take responsibility for the activities in studio. A studio culture document is available on the desktop of the computer workstations and outlines expectations of faculty, staff, and students in regards to the community that is our design program.

83% of the students from the class of Spring 2013 who entered upper division courses (Junior Fall 2011) graduated in 4 years. Due to the BS-Interior Architecture Design being a first-professional degree our graduates often do not pursue graduate school. However, a recent grad did pursue a double Master’s degree in Architecture and Construction Management.

RETENTION

70% of the students enrolled during the 2013 Spring semester returned for the Fall 2013 semester to continue their degree program in interior design.

JOB PLACEMENT RATES
100% of the students that graduated in May 2014, 2015, & 2016 were employed in the discipline within 6 months.

PLACES OF EMPLOYMENTBelow is a sampling of companies that have hired our recent graduates:

CSO Architects, Indianaolis, IN

Lohr Design, Indianapolis, IN

Ratio, architects, Indianapolis, IN

Jensen & Halstead Ltd., Chicago, IL

Salernos Kitchen Cabinetry, New York, NY

Kovert Hawkins, architects, Jeffersonville, IN

IKEA, Chicago, IL

Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc., Jasper, IN

MMS-AE Architects Engineers, Terre Haute, IN

TRAVEL

Students have travel opportunities with site visits to museums, show rooms, regional design centers and design firms throughout the year. Annual tours are conducted each fall and spring semester in order to increase students’ awareness of the world of interior architecture design through the study of a specific city. Additionally, the program offers students an opportunity to study abroad through university organized programs.

ANNUAL FIELD TRIPS

Each year faculty lead trips to exciting destinations to visit and explore various points of design interest. Transportation is via charter coach bus, at a cost of approximately $50 per student. For day-trips the bus leaves around 5am and arrives back to campus around midnight. Some trips require overnight stays and may incur more cost.

An often requested destination is Chicago, a major design center ranked by the AIA as the most important city in America for architecture. Recent trips have included tours of interiors by Rem Koolhaas, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Gehry; trade showrooms at the Merchandise Mart, prominent design firms including Perkins & Will, Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge and Jensen & Halstead Ltd; and world class museums including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

St. Louis has been very successful, too. Beginning with a tour of the Union Station adaptive reuse project, the day-trip to St. Louis has also included stops at design giant HOK, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Arch and the Pulitzer Foundation museum designed by noted Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

IDEA - INTERIOR DESIGNERS EMBRACE ARCHITECTURE

"Strengthening and embracing Indiana State University's Interior Architecture Design students in the world of design"

The IDEA organization was first created to help establish relationships between design professionals and design students. Since the establishment of IDEA, professionals in many different parts of the industry have taken their time to come and speak to the students, offering invaluable advice. IDEA is open to all Indiana State University students who are pursuing a degree in Interior Architecture Design.

As IDEA has grown, one major component in which the active students have incorporated into the organization is community service. The members of IDEA have enjoyed their time as they help the local community. The members of IDEA have partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Harmony Haven Animal Shelter, and other local non-for-profit organizations over its existence.

The IDEA officers and student liaisons and representatives facilitate the organization's functions. These students are vital and contribute their time for other people's benefit. IDEA meets as an organization every other week during the academic school year. Active membership in other professional organizations such as American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Indiana Landmarks is also encouraged.

DESIGN INTERACTION DAY

Interior architecture design students, faculty and professionals will view each others' work, learn about products and services in their field, and gain valuable information about the business of interior architecture design. The annual event is organized by the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and held annually in the spring semester.

STUDY ABROAD

Spend a summer studying design in one of the world's oldest and most important architectural and cultural centers. Typically, students participate during the summer semester of their junior year. The department of Built Environment has begun offering faculty-led short programs abroad (typically 3-weeks) during the summer session.

ALUMNI

The program enjoys one of the highest job placement rates in the university - approximately 90% of its graduates are employed in the interior architecture design field within six months of graduation (100% for ’14, ’15, & ’16). Graduates are successful securing positions as entry-level interior designers in throughout the country and abroad. Others have continued their studies pursuing advanced degrees.

Graduates of the program can be found practicing interior design throughout the country, in virtually every specialization: residential interior design, commercial and institutional design, facilities management, furniture design, college-level interior design education, and trade showrooms.

THE PROFESSION

National Council for Interior Design Qualification’s (NCIDQ) definition of Interior Design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals. Interior design includes a scope of services performed by a professional design practitioner, qualified by means of education, experience and examination, to protect and enhance the health, life safety and welfare of the public. These services may include any or all of the following tasks:

Research and analysis of the client's goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs.

Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client's program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior.

Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines.

Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture

Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules

Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants.

Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials

Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent

Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.

LICENSING

National Council for Interior Design Accreditation

You can apply for the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX) as soon as you graduate from an interior design program that meets the NCIDQ eligibility requirements (ISU meets these requirements). You can apply for the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX) and Practicum exam as soon as you have completed the required qualified work experience. After graduating from our accredited program and gaining work experience for two years full time (minimum of 3,520 hours) you will be eligible to apply to take the NCIDQ exam.

Indiana has now joined the growing number of states that offer a voluntary registration for interior designers. To become a Registered Interior Designer (RID) in the State of Indiana, pass the NCIDQ exam or the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE).